How do Local People Value Rural Waterways? A Study in the Upper Catchments of South East Queensland’s Rivers

Abstract

In Integrated Catchment (or Watershed) Management, the impacts of upstream conditions and actions on downstream environments and people is a key issue. Knowing upstream people’s values towards waterways is, therefore, important for community engagement and the development of publicly acceptable management approaches. This qualitative study applies Kellert’s framework of relational values to explore the types and diversity of people’s values towards the upper catchments of South East Queensland, Australia, and tests the “universality” of Kellert’s framework. We found the full range of values identified by Kellert with some variations and elaborations in content. People living, working, and enjoying recreation in the upper catchments have affection for their local waterways and a moral inclination to protect them. This extends our understanding of how people value these waterways, which is more often depicted in terms of utilitarian and economic value. The findings provide managers with new opportunities for engaging with local communities and waterway users.

Keywords:

• Catchment management
• environment
• Kellert
• relational
• riparian
• rivers
• rural
• streams
• values
• watershed

Notes

Notes

1 Australian expression for a stream or small river.

2 The 2011 flood in South East Queensland is listed as the second most deadly flood in Australian history with 35 confirmed deaths and $2.38 billion in damage (Carbone and Hanson 2012). Communities in the study area were the most severely affected, with 17 lives lost and two people never found. Two more people died in the 2013 flood.

3 “Flash” flooding occurs when an isolated heavy rainfall event upstream creates a fast moving flow through otherwise dry stream beds.